TBC Productions debut with Little Shop of Horrors

Brand new amateur musicals company, TBC Productions is making its debut on Midsummer night with a new production of cult classic Little Shop of Horrors at the Festival Theatre Studio.

The production will run for four nights, Weds 21 – Sat 24 June 2017. Where the company differ from existing amateur musical companies is that they employ ensemble casting, ensuring that all members of the cast have about equal importance or time on stage.

Little Shop of Horrors– the rock comedy horror musical based on Roger Corman’s low-budget 1960 B movie – tells the tale of Seymour Krelborn, a down-trodden floral assistant, who becomes an overnight sensation when he discovers and nurtures an unusual plant.

Seymour unwittingly names the plant Audrey II after his colleague and love-interest – but soon discovers that its nature far less sweet than that of its namesake. Soon Audrey II grows to offer him fame, fortune and love in exchange for feeding its unique appetite. Seymour has some difficult choices to make…

The original movie featured an early performance by Jack Nicholson as Wilbur Force, the gleefully masochistic patient of sadistic dentist, Orin, who is also Audrey’s abusive boyfriend – although the Nicholson character is dropped in the musical.

With music by Alan Menken and book and lyrics by Howard Ashman, the musical premiered in 1982, spent five years off Broadway and was made into a movie in 1986.

Mission

Sell-A-Door put out a UK tour in 2016, directed by Tara Wilkinson, starring Sam Lupton as Seymour Stephanie Clift as Audrey and Rhydian Roberts as Orin. But when it managed to bypass Edinburgh, TBC productions made it their mission to bring the show to Edinburgh audiences using the same casting structure as the professional productions.

Thomas McFarlane, recently seen in 9 to 5 The Musical, is playing Seymour; Fiona Dawson who played Liz in Allegro’s productionSunshine on Leith last October is taking on Audrey, Charlie Munro who’s memorable Fagin] has been seen in several productions, plays Seymour’s boss, Mr Mushnik, and Steven Smyth who was in the Twilighter’s Drowsy Chaperone in April will take on Orin.

McFarlane says: “TBC Productions was formed in summer 2016 when we realised there was no one providing a platform for ensemble shows in Edinburgh outside of the Fringe.

“It was initially formed as a small group internally cast, however the hope is to open our doors to the wider theatre community. Next year’s show will be announced very soon and we will be holding open auditions as well as inviting applications for those wishing to be part of the production team.

“With it being ensemble shows, as the professional shows were intended, we also wanted to bring the same quality to our productions. This is why we have chosen a high quality venue and have opted for the new Broadway arrangements of the score for Little Shop.”

The trio of street urchins, Chiffon, Crystal and Ronette, who act as a Greek chorus, commenting on the action in the form of a 1960s girl group will be played by Mia Oudeh, Rachel Aedy and Sarah Quinn. Chris McLeish takes on the role of the plant itself, Audrey II.